Chapter 125: Strolling Through the Market

Sang Xiong’s guidance to Tang Wei along the way was only out of gratitude for her saving his family; otherwise, he would have kept his distance, unwilling to invite trouble upon himself. In his mind, the things she said would be grounds for execution even if spoken by a powerful martial artist. Not only had he never heard such notions, but they sounded absolutely preposterous. Had he not witnessed her remarkable abilities with his own eyes, he would have suspected she was mentally unwell. He simply could not fathom how she could harbor such strange ideas.

In truth, Tang Wei understood these matters perfectly well. Even if she had never eaten pork, she had at least watched the pigs run. The feudal society—or rather, the slave society—portrayed on television followed this very model of interaction, only with the added presence of martial artists flaunting their power. She felt stifled and aggrieved, which sparked her rebellious attitude. To think that she, Tang Wei, had been plucked from a free, democratic society and dropped into this backward, remote mountain region where one’s pleas went unanswered by heaven and earth—how was she supposed to live?

They arrived at the town in silence. Tang Wei followed as they wove through the streets, watching Sang Xiong pull the cart to the entrance of an establishment similar to a large hotel back in China. Sang Zhong and Sang Liang stayed behind to guard the cart, while Sang Xiong went inside to negotiate. Moments later, a man dressed as a waiter emerged and led the trio and their cart around to the back courtyard.

Tang Wei stood at the entrance of the tavern, not following them in. Instead, she stared with curiosity at the bustling market. The sounds of trade, hawking, and haggling filled the air. Inside the tavern, waiters darted about with food and drink, while the sounds of finger-guessing games, laughter, and clinking cups drifted out. It was a scene of constant movement and bustling crowds.

The sight was all too familiar. Tang Wei had seen such scenes countless times on television, but she had never experienced them in person. Now, standing here and feeling it all, she realized how artificial those television portrayals were. Naturally, no matter how realistic a performance is, it remains a play; it could never compare to the tangible events unfolding here. People here did not need to perform for an audience; they simply went about their daily lives. This was a true theater of reality.

When Sang Xiong exited the tavern, he saw Tang Wei staring blankly at the marketplace. He decided to have Sang Ye take her around to explore later. In Sang Xiong’s eyes, Tang Wei had become the true country bumpkin. Her behavior and mannerisms were nothing like those of a seasoned traveler. The fact that a small market could leave her so dazed led Sang Xiong to conclude that she was an innocent girl, sheltered by some reclusive master and training in the deep mountains, now out in the world to gain experience.

If Tang Wei knew that the background story she had invented for Zi Xuan was now being applied to her, she might have laughed herself into a faint. Then again, such melodramatic tropes were universal, regardless of the era, society, or even the planet.

Sang Xiong had brought too much game for a single tavern to handle, so they had to seek out several others. This gave Tang Wei plenty of time to play the part of the bumpkin. While the others labored to find buyers, she wandered about, eyes wide, occasionally wanting to touch something strange. If Sang Ye hadn’t been pulling her along, she might have been lost. This only deepened Sang Xiong’s conviction, and he resolved to protect this great benefactor of the Sang family at all costs.

By the time the game was sold, it was already noon. The haul, including the pelts, had fetched over three hundred taels of silver—a sum bolstered by the inclusion of a few rare specimens.

Next came the matter of lunch. Sang Xiong hesitated. If it were just their own group, they would likely have gone hungry until they returned home. But they couldn't allow their benefactor to go without a meal. Yet, entering a tavern would cost several taels—enough to feed their entire village for days. The thought was heart-wrenching.

"No matter," he thought. "If not for her, we wouldn't even have this silver." He gritted his teeth and called out to Tang Wei, "Miss Tang, you must be hungry after all this time. Shall we go inside for a bite? We’ve been so busy running about that we haven't properly hosted you. It’s been quite rude of us."

"There's no need, I'm not hungry," Tang Wei replied. She knew how difficult his position was; she was no pampered young lady and understood the value of money. Prices were the same everywhere, and a single meal in a restaurant could feed a family for days. Knowing the hardships of Sang Village, she didn't want to add to their burden. "To be honest, I don't usually need to eat. If I do, it's just to satisfy a craving. You don't need to worry about my meals."

"You don't need to eat at all, Miss Tang?" Sang Xiong was unfamiliar with the concept of cultivators and was naturally curious. Ordinary people would collapse after three or five days without food; if Miss Tang didn't feel hungry, was she not a living immortal?

"How should I put this? My cultivation has surpassed the level where I need to consume food. I can maintain my physical strength simply through meditation. Oh, why am I even explaining this? You wouldn't understand anyway. Just know that I won't starve to death." Tang Wei struggled to find the right words, then realized she was essentially playing the lute for a cow. She felt a surge of irritation, and her tone became sharp.

"I understand, I understand!" Sang Xiong, sensing her annoyance, quickly suggested that Sang Ye take her to the market while he and the brothers bought supplies. He spoke to her as if coaxing a child.

Tang Wei didn't mind. The suggestion suited her perfectly. She had been longing to see the women in their Han-style robes. Back in the village, everyone wore patched, shapeless rags, and even the girls only wore simple long shirts and trousers. Now, seeing these beautiful, authentic garments, she was enchanted. She had seen people selling Hanfu online before but had never had the courage to wear it. Now, with the opportunity to dress up without being treated like a freak, she was eager to pick out a few beautiful pieces.

Without waiting for further instruction, Tang Wei grabbed Sang Ye and Sang Ying and headed out. She was like a bird released from a cage, flipping through items and examining everything. The peddlers were delighted, thinking they had found a wealthy mark—never suspecting that Tang Wei was penniless.

Though she had no money, she possessed items that could buy the entire town. However, she didn't actually want these trinkets; she was merely curious. She wasn't a child, and buying such things would be useless. Even if she gave them to the village children, they would only mock her for being childish. She wasn't that foolish. The peddlers were destined to be disappointed.

As seasoned merchants, they quickly realized she had no intention of buying anything. Their expressions soured, and some even snatched their goods from her hands, muttering insults about "poor wretches" and telling her not to touch things if she couldn't afford them. Tang Wei, stunned and embarrassed, stood there at a loss. She had never encountered such treatment; in China, even if you just browsed, no one would be so rude. Sang Ye, who had a fiery temper, began to quarrel with a peddler on her behalf. A crowd gathered, surrounding them and leaving Tang Wei feeling even more mortified.

Seeing a flag in the distance bearing the character for "Pawn," Tang Wei realized she had plenty of valuable items in her storage space. Pawning a few for silver to buy gifts for the village children would be better than standing here and making a spectacle of herself. Leaving Sang Ye and Sang Ying, she walked over. The shop was quiet, with an old man dozing on a recliner—a stark contrast to the lively market outside.

"Young lady, do you have something good for this old man to see?" The sudden voice startled her. She turned to find the old man sitting up, eyes fixed on her. Given her current level of cultivation, such a lapse in awareness was inexcusable. A cultivator should always be vigilant; had this been an enemy, she might have been killed already.

Regretting her carelessness, she replied, "Old man, I have some things here. How much silver are they worth?" She reached into her bag and produced some jewelry she had prepared—gifts from various noble families that she had tossed into her storage space. It was fortunate she had dismissed them as inferior to the treasures of her inner space at the time, or she wouldn't have had such convenient items now.